Cherry blossoms signal spring in Tokyo, Washington D.C.

Japan ‘s official cherry blossom spotters on Monday confirmed the first blooming of the country’s favorite flower, declaring the official start of the festive season in the Japanese capital.

An official from the Japan Meteorological Agency carefully examined the specimen tree at Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine and announced that more than five blossoms — the minimum required for the announcement — were flowering on it.

The opening matched the average year and was five days earlier than last year, according to the JMA.

The JMA tracks more than 50 “benchmark” cherry trees across the country. The trees normally bloom for about two weeks from first bud to all the blossoms falling off. They are expected to reach their peak in about 10 days.

Cherry blossoms, or “sakura,” are Japan’s favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year. Many Japanese enjoy walking or picnicking under the trees.

Sakura have deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and have regularly been used in poetry and literature, with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.

Cherry blossom fever also strikes in America every spring. Ever since 1912, when Japan gifted 3,000 trees to Washington, DC, the thousands of blooming cherry blossom trees in the nation’s capital have served as both a magnet to visitors and the unofficial start of the tourist season. 

This year, the peak bloom for the iconic pinkish white flowers is predicted to come between March 28 and 31, according to the National Park Service, which cares for the city’s 3,500 trees. The overall Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 20 through April 13.

It's estimated that about 1.6 million visitors will spend more than $200 million with city businesses during the event.



(AP Photo Mark Schiefelbein)